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Syrians in Toronto mark 5th anniversary of uprising with thanks and pleas to Canada

Demonstration at Old City Hall calls for ongoing international support for democracy in their homeland.

A hundred Syrian Canadians and their supporters gathered at Old City Hall on Saturday to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Syrian Revolution and to rally in solidarity with Syrians who continue to call for freedom. (Richard Lautens / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Amina Alzarif, 20, has been in Canada for just two months but came out for the rally, which was held with the dual purpose of thanking Canadians for their support of refugees and asking the international community to continue backing democracy in Syria.
(Richard Lautens / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Mohamad Kahatib holds his flag in the sunshine on Queen St., face muffled against the cold with a wrap in the colours of his homeland. (Richard Lautens / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

About 100 people raised their voices and braved the cold in support of Syria and those fighting for freedom in Syria in front of Old City Hall on Saturday, marking the fifth anniversary of the uprising there.

“We’re here to say no to a dictatorship regime and yes to freedom and democracy in Syria,” said Mohamad Kahatib, one of the demonstrators.

“We want to first thank the Canadian government and Mr. Trudeau for his support and acceptance of Syrian refugees in Canada — to give them a chance to live as normal human beings.”

“We also want to say to the international community: You’re not doing enough. If we delay, more extremists will come out.”

The demonstration was organized by Save Our Syria, a non-profit organization, to not only shine a light on the continuing violence in Syria but also encourage the Canadian government to continue its support of Syrian refugees.

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Young and old alike waved Canadian and Syrian flags, sang and chanted asking for freedom for Syria.

“We need freedom; we need democracy,” the group sang in Arabic. Men linked arms and swayed to the rhythm of the music. One of the demonstrators translated the words of the song for the Star: “We love Syria and we support the Syrian people. Go away Assad, we don’t need you.”

Kahatib said he and others at the demonstration want to see the killing in their homeland stop and negotiations for peace and democracy to move forward. “But we should first get Assad out,” he said.

The demonstration was one of many taking place around the world to support the fight for freedom in Syria, said organizers. Demonstrators carried signs reflecting their feelings about the current government in Syria. They read “Down with ISIS and Assad” and “No to Bashar; No to Putin; Yes to the Syrian People.”

Ever since the ceasefire began in late February, Syrians have gathered around the world to show their support for a democratic Syria, said Maher Azem, a local Syrian activist and organizer of the Syria Film Festival. Even in Syria demonstrators are once more beginning to gather again, demanding an end to the violence and the beginning of freedom, he said.

“We just want to remind the world, we’re still here,” Azem said. “We want to remind the world that the war is a popular uprising — a Syrian revolution calling for human rights.”

In the crowd were about 20 newcomers — Syrian refugees who arrived in Canada only recently — who said they felt it was important to participate.

For Faden Aozarif, a 21-year-old pharmaceutical student who came to Canada two months ago from a camp in Jordan, it was a way to show her support for those still left behind.

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